Procedures: Write the Answer to the Questions Below on a Piece of Paper

Inquiry 4.0 Introduction to Tides

Introduction:

Have you ever built a sandcastle on an ocean beach only to find it washed away a few hours later? Every 6 to 12 hours or so in most places along the shore, the water rises and falls in a regular cycle called “tides.” What causes this phenomenon? In this inquiry you will apply what you know about the Sun-Earth-Moon system to the occurrence of tides on Earth. To begin, you will read about the effect of tides on organisms along the shore. You will brainstorm what you know about ocean tides. How do the times of high and low tides along the Atlantic Ocean change each day and throughout the month? Is the there any relationship between moonrise and moonset times and tides? Does the phase of the Moon affect tides?

Procedures: write the answer to the questions below on a piece of paper.

Read “Marching to the Beat of Tides,” from the teachers website.

A.  Discuss with your group the following question:

1)  Give one example of an organism that is affected by tidal rhythms.

2)  Why does the story say that tides are like clocks?

3)  How do you think Fiddler crabs that are taken from their natural home (the ocean) are active during low tides when they are not at sea?

4)  Why do some organisms only come out during Low Tides (what advantages would there be)?

5)  Why do some organisms only come out during High Tides (what advantages would there be)?

6)  Make a list of what you already know about ocean tides.

B.  Get your teachers attention to show your completion of the steps above.

C.  Go to your lab station and get your box of materials.

D.  Pick up the water balloon and have the balloon rest in the palm of your hand.

E.  Shine the flashlight on the balloon so it casts a shadow on the white board.

F.  Trace the shadow made by the balloon on the white board.

G.  Hold the balloon by the mouth piece (neck) of the balloon.

H.  Shine the flashlight on the balloon so it casts a shadow on the 2nd white board.

I) Trace the shadow made by the balloon on the 2nd white board.

7) How did the balloon’s shape change under the influence of the “pull” of your hand and influence of Earth’s gravity?

8)  How do you think this balloon (in this inquiry) is similar to the Earth?

9)  What do you think would cause the Earth to elongate (stretch out)?

J. Go to the teacher’s website and watch both “Why tidal bulges occur” and “Action of tides”. Did your findings from step I match up with the video? Explain.